Share:

Rosa Hybrid Tea 'First Prize'This fruitful long stemed bloomer has a lemon-apricot scent. Its prize winning blooms are a rich rose pink, with a light reverse, that unfolds from long spiral buds. This 1970 AARS winner has magnificent color and a clean fragrance.General DescriptionOne of the oldest cultivated ornamentals, Rosa is a broad and complex genus with over 100 species and thousands of cultivated varieties. Roses are woody shrubs or rambling climbers that originate from Northwestern Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. They are either deciduous, evergreen or semi-evergreen, and all have stems lined with sharp woody thorns.

Roses have been grown for their beauty, food, perfume and medicine for nearly 5000 years. Early rose references and depictions go back as far as Ancient China, Mesopotamia, and Egypt. The Ancient Greeks and Romans venerated the rose and during the Crusades Europeans brought desirable eastern roses back to Europe. Rose cultivation hit a higher level of intensity in Victorian times and today scores of new, often patented, varieties are introduced each year.

Prefer full to partial sun, moderate temperatures and perfectly drained, slightly acid soil with average to good fertility. They often grow best in places with slightly dry climates, because such climates disfavor the fungal diseases that plague roses. For this reason, it is important to maintain good airflow within and between planted roses through good planting and pruning practices which will dissuade fungal attacks. Roses are rife with pest and disease problems. In fact, there are many common pests and diseases that can harm them. Fortunately, new cultivars are bred to be disease resistant. Hardiness is species dependent.